You hear about firemen and cops pulling people from burning buildings and collapsed buildings and all kinds of horrible situations, but rarely, if ever, do you hear a story like this: A 4-year-old little girl dragged her sister, who is only 2, from a car crash. She then wrapped a blanket around the two of them and stayed all night by the side of the road waiting for help. The miraculous scene started, however, with a tragedy: The toddlers' mother was killed at the wheel of the car when she fell asleep while driving.

The girls, 4-year-old Aryanna and 2-year-old Lylah, were in the car with mom Jessica Marie Rath, who was driving them through Washington state to meet up with their father, Keaton Huff, who is a fisherman. When he informed her that his boat was being detoured to Portland, Jessica decided to drive there, despite Keaton begging her to go home instead because of the late hour.

At about 2 a.m., Jessica apparently fell asleep at the wheel. The car swerved off the highway and into a tree, killing her on impact.

Aryanna reportedly pulled little Lylah, who was severely injured, out of the car and covered them both in a blanket. Police say since it was a chilly, rainy night, her action likely saved both of their lives.

I cannot fathom that a 4-year-old would know what to do in this situation. Her panic must have been immense. Nor can I imagine what it was like for them with their dead mother in the totalled car next to them. I couldn't find any stories that mentioned whether they were in car seats.

It wasn't until the next morning that passing a couple who were driving by decided to stop and check out the tree that was hit, and that is when they saw the wrecked car -- and the two little girls huddled under a blanket. Said the Good Samaritan who found them:

After looking at the scene you'd never think that anyone was going to make it out of there.

Police say that hypothermia would have set in if they were found any later. The girls were reunited with their father at a local hospital. Aryanna has been released; Lylah is still being treated. Hopefully the girls will be able to use the inner strength that allowed them to survive this horrific ordeal to survive a life without mom.